Dublin City Council is examining proposals to pedestrianise what has been, until recently, one of the city's busiest roadways. Liam Reid reports.
Staff at the council are now drawing up plans for major changes to traffic and pedestrian arrangements on St Stephen's Green after the temporary closure of part of the area to traffic proved highly successful.
The plans include the pedestrianisation of part of the Green close to the Luas terminus and making permanent the temporary traffic arrangements brought in earlier this month.
On the week that Luas opened to the public, the council closed St Stephen's Green West, between Cuffe Street and Grafton Street, to undertake extensive repairs to part of the road near the green. Traffic became two-way on remaining parts of the Green for the first time in 40 years.
The road was due to reopen in October, but the council is now examining plans to make the traffic diversions permanent, along with the permanent closure to traffic of part of the Green near the Luas terminus.
Mr Tim O'Sullivan, executive officer at the roads and traffic division of the council, said that while no decisions had been made, significant changes were likely.
"We're looking at a number of options such as pedestrianisation of part of the road," he said.
At present Luas passengers can walk across the road safely because of the road closure, as only a limited number of vehicles are using this part of the road because of the closure. There had been concerns that the diversions would cause traffic chaos, but it is believed the new arrangements have actually improved traffic flow.
However, traffic was "very light" because of the summer, according to Mr O'Sullivan, and the council cannot be certain the new arrangements are working until September, when heavier volumes return to the city centre. Meanwhile, the road surface of the newly refurbished O'Connell Street in Dublin is to undergo a special sandblasting-like treatment to make it less slippy in wet weather and prevent bus crashes.
It follows complaints from Dublin Bus that its vehicles were involved in minor incidents after they failed to stop in wet weather due to the smooth granite surface on the street close to the GPO.
Specialists have been flown in from Italy to undertake the specialised work, which is similar to a sandblasting. Instead of sand, the surface will be bombarded with tiny metal balls.
The treatment will effectively remove the polished surface and create greater grip for car and vehicle tyres.